A newly proposed bill in Minnesota is hoping to decrease the impact of hospital cuts and closures for patients and employees.
The bill, introduced by Minnesota Rep. Andy Smith, would ensure that those in control of a licensed hospital or hospital campus provide at least 300 days' notice to the state's commissioner of health, the public and "others" prior to operational cuts, closures or relocations.
If approved, the bill would increase the notice time from 120 days to the newly suggested 300 days. It would also ensure that the commissioner conducts a public hearing regarding the operational changes no later than 30 days after receiving the notice, which was previously set at 45 days.
Failure to notify the commissioner of planned operational cuts or closures could result in "issuance of a correction order," according to the bill.
News of the proposed bill comes after both Essentia Health-Fosston (Minn.) and the Mayo Clinic Health System's New Prague, Minn., sites are facing closure of their labor and delivery units amid ongoing cuts and closures to obstetrics services nationwide.